Automatic spark control for internal-combustion engines.



F. BAIER. `AUTOMAT|C SPARK CONTROL EoR INTERNAL CoMBUsTIoN ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED 0CT.7.19I5i 1 ,20-4,780. r Patented Nov.' 14, 1916.

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AuoMATlc SPARK CONTROL FOR INTERNAL CoMusTloN ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED 0CT.7.19I5.

I atellted Nov. 14, 19u16.

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A Tro/P/vfn I /9 @gw /m/M/ f1 whichwill appear from? ja speciiicatlon and claims. y Y' v n FREDERICK BAIER, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA.

AUTOMATIC SPARK CONTROL FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nev. 14, 1916.

Application led October 7, 1915.' Serial No. 54,658.

vention is to provide an improved and sim- `plified spark control mechanism which will operate with certainty and with less Wear .on the parts than obtains in like devicesin use at the present time.

A further object of the invention isl to provide a device for automatically controlling the spark in electrical systems emf ployed in connection with internal combusL tion engines, particularly those employed in ,automobile construction, in which the working parts are greatly reduced in num ber with a corresponding reduction in fric; tion, thereby insuring a lowcost of manufacture, accessibility and compactness.

There are other objects and advantages perusal of the Referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof,'in,which- Figure 1' is a central vertical sectional View of my improved automatic spark control for controlling the electric:` current in' connection with internal l'combustion `engines. Fig. 2 is a cross section on' the line 2 2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isa cross section4 on the line 3 3 in FiU'. 1. `Fig. 4 isa fragmentary detail sectional view on A,the line' in: Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary de-l or casing within which the revoluble mechanism is housed, and the said casing terminates in a suitable hollow1 stem 11 which is provided with a foot-plate 12 for securing the casing in operative position by means of the bolts 13. The stem 11 is provided with a longitudinally extending bore adapted to receive a vertically disposed driving shaft 15, and the latter isprovided on its lowerV end with a suitable bevel pinion 16 which meshes with a corresponding pinion, of proper ratio 0n the engine shaft (the engine shaft and its pinion not being shown),lthrough which movement of rotation is transmittedto the movable parts of the device.

AThe upper end of the bore in the stem 11 is reduced Vin diameter to form an annular shoulderV 18, and the upper end of shaft is-reduced in vdiameter to form an annular shoulder 20 adapted to abut the shoulder 18,"so as tolimit the insertion of said shaft into said hollow stem. The upper end of the driving'shaft 15 is provided with a longi` tudinal b'ore to forma pocket which receives a lspindle 21 formed on the lower endl of a mechanism supporting shaft 22, the latter shaft being in yaxial alinement with the driv# ing shaft 15. The shaft 22 supports apart of the revoluble mechanism of the device and is subject to severe strains which may cause yits impairment, and in order to conserve as many parts of the device as possible. in case of anyimpairment'is, from a constructive' point of view, the reason tor forming the shaft 22 and its s indle 21 independently of the driving sha t 15 and such other parts' as are to be hereinafter described. To enable a defective Vshaft 22 to be easily :removed and replaced, without destroying its relative osi'tion with the other mechanism, '1-, in ot er words, to preserve its' registered vposition with respect to the other .mecha-msm, -I provide the driving shaftl' with a recess o rslo't 23 adapted to receive a pin 24 on the spindle'21. This-arrangement enables a" 11ew shaft22, hav ing a properly located pin 24, to' be easily brought into registration `with/ the driving shaft'l, or vice versa. The shaft 22 1s normally round in cross sect-ion as'at 25, but its opposite sides are cut down to present the flat faces 26 (seFig. 3) to aiord suiii cient bearing for afgovernor mechanism, to be hereinafter described, and the sides of the Shaft 22 and at right angles of the faces '2G are also squared as at 27,'and these faces are provided with the channels `28 which form seats for suitable springs adapted to apply a tension tdthego'venor mecha# nism. The shaft 22 aboveits squared portion is reduced' in -diameter and lisleft round in cross section to form a shaft 30, and this shaft is still fm'thenreduced in diameter to form the cam supportingshaft v3l andthe intervening annular' shoulder 33 upon which the cam-block is loosely mounted. To eliminate a certain amount or' friction the hub 3G-of cam-block is bored out a part of its length Vin which the diameter of the bore is'liglitly in excess of the external diameter of 4shaft 30. The lines of force due tothe formationof the cam 'are in a plane at right angles'to its longitudinal aXis,'and the function is to 'actuate'the' 'interrupter frame which is interposed within the primaryA circuit. As before stated, the camrblock 3 5 is loosely mounted on its supporting shaft 3 1 and may be easily removed therefrom when the mechanism yneeds cleaning or in making repairs. In order that a cam-bloek can be replaced so as to occupy the same relative position on theshaft 31 as it Aoccupied befrefthe` hub 36'is provided with a laterally projectinglug 36 and the division plate 44 with a recess 44, and these two must be brought into registration before the cam-block can be removedor replaced. The-interruptor for interrupting the current inthe-primary circuit comprises a rectangular frame40having' a centralopening off-sufiicient -a'rea to 'freely surround the cam-block 35, and inorder that said frame may freely move and readily respond to the action off-said cam, I mount the interrupte'r frame 40 in suitable tball bearings, While-the-'edges of the frame 40 arej provided with grooves 41 forming ball-races for theballs 421.- The'balls 42 project into the ball-races in thefi'ame'40 and the balls are retainedin recesses 42' seeFig.- 5) forme-d ini the 'enlargements t3, the latter being formed integrally with the division plate 44. The plate 4 4gs 'insulated from the casing 10 by suitable insulating material 45. The metal off the enlargements 43 surrounding the mouths oi the recesses 42z` are swaged inward and above the axis ofthe balls 42 sufficiently to prevent the balls from accidental displacement without in'terfering'with their free rotation, yand the balls are held in properworking` relation -With lthe interrupter `iframe 4 0 by means ofA screws 432L which., bear against the'sidesof -the balls opposite theirpoints lof contactwith said frame40. "The frame 40 is-also provided on opposite edges with the notches 48 whichA communicate -With the ballj-races 41 ,`and

these notches are arranged a sufficient dis-- tance back toward 'the center of they frame to be beyond the normal travel of the frame when the latter is actuated by the camblock llowever` when it is deslred to remove the frame 40 for any cause it can 'be' accomplished y by `manna lly advancing the frame until the notches 48 register with the adjacent balls 4.2 when that end of the trame can be freed, then by further advancing the frame until the other end passes'over the balls in the 'remaining bearings the said frame can entirely be removed and replaced as necessitiv dictates. The interrupter frame is further'provided with a. contaot-point 46 contacteigis provided with a suitable contactm52 which is composed of platinum or other suitable material for the purpose, and this contact is' provided with external threads and is mounted in a threaded aperture in the frame 40 in order that the contact can be ext-ended or retracted to maintain a proper working relation With an eX- teriorlv located Contact 53, carried by the casing 10.' This arrangement of parts permits the contact to be adjusted to overcome lost motion'due to the action of attrition at the end of thepoints of the oontacts 52 and 53, and when the contact 52 has been properly adjusted it can be secured by means of the lock-nuts 54. and 55. Attention is `also'called to the fact that the frame l0 is lmounted so that its movement of, travel is in a plane which is parallel with the longitudinal axis of contact '53, which insures that the. ends of contacts 52 and 53 at allv times will meet squarely and that said ends will remain square even as thev wear away through the action of attrition, so that the How ot'e'lectric current will remain constant. In time the ends of contacts and' 53 will wearand thus increase the gap -between the points of contact which will allow the trame 40 Vto be shifte'dfa greater distance, which in turn will set up'a 'severe pounding and thus reducethe ends of the'contacts and increase the widthof the gap abnormally. To prevent a condition which results in prematurely reducing the points of contacts 52 and 53 I provide suitable stop-pins 44b which are mounted in division plate 44 at a point to limit 'the movement and take the jar of trame 40 when the end of Contact '2 becomes' worn down to a determined length, at which time the contact 52 can be adjusted to its normal position before there is any interference with the current in the circuit.

The electric current in the primary circuit leaves the interrupter frame through contacts 52 and 53 and through conductor wire 57 to the usual and well known induction coil from whence it is returned as a high tension current through conductor wire 60 to the central terminal 6l which is mounted in the cap 62, formed of insulating material, and forms a cover for casing 10. The high tension current passes through terminal 6]. and is delivered to the distributorlsegment through a spring seated member 64. The segment 65 is supported and rotated by the cam-block 35, but is insulated from said cam-block by means of the insulating block 66, the latter being interposed between said segment and cam-block 35. The insulating block 66 is loosely mounted on cam and to insure. that the block 66 will be rotated in a positive manner a plate 68 is inserted between said block and cam, and this plate is provided with the spurs 73 which are embedded in the body of block 66, and a pin 7l carried by the plate projects into an aperture in the cam-block 35, whereby the segment 65, block 66 and plate 68 will rotate in unison. The pin 7l and its en gagement with an aperture in cam-block 35 enables the segment, block and plate to be removed and replaced without destroying or disarranging their working relation with cam-block 35, and, also, serves the additional purpose of allowing the cam-block 35, cam supporting shaft 31 and shoulder 33 to be lubricated through anoil hole in the end of the trunnion on plate 68., Examining Fig. 1, it will be noted that the forward end of the insulating block 66 is out away leaving a projecting ledge 75, and passing through this ledge is a binder-screw 7 6 which secures the free end of the distributor-segment 65 firmly in place upon the face of block 66. The air gap existing between the end of screw 76 and end of plate 68 allows the high tension current to jump to said plate under abnormal conditions-for instance, when the electrodes in the spark-plugs become fouled which will interfere with or entirely prevent the current from pursuing' its normal course. Under normal conditions` the high tension current is distributed by the segment 65 to the various electrodes 80 from whence it is delivered through the several conductor wires 81 to their respective sparleplugs in the cylinders of the engine, in the usual way. The time for normally bringing the segment 65 into position coincident with the several electrodes 8O in successive order, or to advance and retard said segment from an assumed normal position, so as to bring said segment coincident with the electrodes 80 at an earlier or later period of time, is conl trolled entirely by the rotation of the engine, by increasing or decreasing the supply of fuel. ln view of the increased or decreased movement of the engine, which is immediately reflected by an increased or decreased movement of the revoluble parts of the device, causing thc segment 65 to advance or retreat from an assumed normal position, certain means must be employed to prevent sudden impulses, accompanying the acceleration and diminution of movement of rotation from a normal ratio of movement of rotation, reaching segment 65. This is acs complished, first, by .loosely mounting camblocl 35 on cam-supporting shaft 3l, and, second, by providing a governor mechanism by which variations in the movement of rotation can gradually be imparted to camblocl 35, block 66 and distributor-segment 65.

The governormechanism comprises a plurality of wings composed of thin metal sheets 82, 83, 8st and 85 which are mounted upon a common sha-ft 86 passing transversely through the squared portion of shaft The blades 82 and 83 form the end members of one governor wing and the blades 84 and 85 form the end members of the other governor wing. To impart the necessary weiO'ht to each governor wing lthe blades 82 and 83, and the blades 8l and 85 are mounted some distance apart and the intervening space between each set of blades is filled with a plurality of thin plates 88 which are of less length than the length of the end members. The abridgment in length of the plates 88 Ais for the purpose of providing sufficient clearance for the supporting shaft 22. Building the governor wings up out of a plurality of thin metal sheets is merely a mechanical expedient from an economical manufacturing point of view, and the several sheets of each wing are securely held together bymeans of the transverse rivets 90. rI he plate 83 of one governor wing and the plate 8l of the other governor wing are provided with the toothed segments 83a and 84; which are cut on arcs concentric with the longitudinal axis of the supporting shaft 86. These segments are arranged to stand on opposite sides of the shaft 22 with their teeth. engaging correspending teethin the lower end of the hub 36 of cani 35.

The goveri'ior wings are normally held above a plane drawn through the horizontal axis of shaft 86. upon which the wings are mounted, by means of suitable springs 91 which are seated in the channels 28 in sha-ft Q2. and these springs are held in proper position by means of a bolt 92. lVhen a. sudden impulse is imparted to shaft through shaft l5, and'presuming that the effect will i be to increase the movement of rotation of thc parts, the governor vvings, on account of the ell'eet ot centrifugal action, ivill move toward a plane dravfn through the horizontal axis of shaft SG. This independent morement ot the governor Wings and the independent mounting' of the cam 35, in view ot' their toothed engagement, will cause the eliect ot any sud den impulse to be neutralized, while the ultimate increase in movement of rotation reali/:ed will gradually be reflected in the cam, causing the latter to move -tor- \vard in the iath ot the general direction ot travel and coincide and deliver the high tension current to the electrodes S0 at an earlier period oi time than prevailed before. (ln the other hand. any impulses arising' when suddenly reducing the movement ot rotation of the part s when the supply ot tuel fed to the eugiiiis reduced, vvill gradually be imparted to the. cam 35. s the pend ol the engine is reduced a corresponding reduction ot movement oi rotation of the governor ivings ivill result, so that as the springs 91 overcome the eilect ot' centrifugal action exerted upon the governor Wings the latter are moved av-:ay trom a plane draivn through the horizontal axis oll shatt SG. This reverse direction of travel ot the governor vvings is transmitted through segments 82@ and St to cam 35, causing the latter together .vith segment to move backvvard in the path of general direction ot travel, so that the segment G5 will. coincide vfith electrodes SO at a later period of time, which, after passing rearivard of an assumed normal position, is called a retarded position.

ln order to provide for a uniformity of pressure against the governor Wings by the springs 91, since the springs are formed separately and may not uniformly resist a given pressure, l provide a separate cam for incr asing and decreasing the resiliency ol each spring. A cam 95 is mounted in each wing of the governor and to provide vvorling room tor said cams cach wing is recessed as at 96. The cams are mounted on suitable trunnions 9T vvhicli pass transversely through thev ivings and are provided on their outer ends vvith the loch-nuts 9S b v which the cams are securely held in a given aoiustment.

'The herein described movable parts of the device are capable or being rotated in the opposite direction from that indicated b v the arrou in Fig. Q in order to enlarge its field ot usefulness, as, for instance, ivhere the driving mechanism is moving in the opnosite direction from that herein indicated. To enable the parts to become eiiective ivhen used in connection with mechanism moving in. the reverse direction, it is only iecessary to change the position of segment G5 on the block GG from the position indicated b v means ot full lines to the posit-ion indicated by means of dotted lines, in said ligure. An aperture 99 is properly located in the tace ot block G6 so that the adjustment of segment G5 can be easily and accurately att'ected. rlhis new position of segment (35 is suiliciently advanced from its present location (see Fig. 2), in the path of its neiv direction. of travel, to cause segment 65 to eoincide with electrodes 80 in successive order at the proper time.

Fig. .E of the drawings illustrates a modiconstruction of the governor mechanism. ln this instance, the cam 35 is provided in its opposite marginal edge of its base 35 with suitable teeth 105 Which engage corresponding teeth 10G in the adjacent edges ot the curved governor blades 107. rthe :tree ends ot the blades 107 are provided with cam-bolts 110 to which suitable springs 111 are attached. rThese springs are secured at their opposite ends to pivot-bolts 10S, which construction alloivs the free ends ot the blades 107 to move outward under the el'lect oit' centrifugal action, and through the engagement ot teeth 106 and 105 the cam advance: and retarded with respect to its general direction of travel. The blades 107 are limited in their movement about the bolts 10S by means of stop-pins 112. By means 'of the cam formation of cam-bolts 11() an inu.

creased or decreased tension can be exerted upon the blades 107 through the springs 111.

Having thus fully described my said invention, ivhat I desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A device of the herein described class comprising a revoluble cam supporting member, a cam loosely mounted Von said cam supporting member and provided With teeth, a centrifugally acting` governor comprising a pair of independent movable blades provided With segmental toothed racks supported by said cam supporting member, said segmental toothed racks adapted to engage the teeth in the cam,y and means for rotating said cam supporting member.

Q. A device of the herein described class comprising a revoluble cam supporting member. a cam loosely mounted on said cam supporting` member and provided With teeth, a centritugallv acting governor comprising ay pair oi' independent movable blades provided vvith segmental toothed racks supported iv said cam supporting member, said segmental toothed raclts adapted to engage the teeth in the cam, vieldable means for holding said governor in an assumed normal position when the parts are at rest, and means for rotating said cam supporting member.

3. A device of the herein described class comprising a revoluble cam `supporting member, a cam loosely mounted on said cam supporting member and provided with teeth. a centritugally actingI governor supported by said cam supporting member and having teeth for engaging the teeth in the. cam, yieldable means for holding said governor in an assumed normal position when the parts are at rest, means comprising cams for increasing and decreasing 'the tension on said governor, and means for rotating said ing governor comprising a pair of independ-l ent movable blades provided with segmental toothed"racks supported by and rotating with said 'cam supporting member, said segmental toothed racks adapted to engage the teeth in said -cam, said governor actuating said cam about its axis independently of its general direction of travel.

l5. A device of the herein described class comprising a yrevoluble cam supporting member, a cam loosely mounted on said cam supportingv member and provided With teeth, a Weighted toothed segment' comprising a plurality oi plates engaging the teeth in the cam to actuate the latter through centrifugal action, and means for rotating the governorand its supporting member. l y

6. A' device of the herein described'class comprising a revoluble cam supporting member, a cam provided with concentrically arranged toothed racks loosely mounted on said cam supporting member, and means for imparting a differential movement to said cam independently of its general direction of travel comprising a pair of independent centrifugally actuated governor blades provided With segmental toothed racks engaging the teeth in said cam mounted on and moving with said cam supporting member.

7. A device of the herein described class comprising a revoluble cam supporting member, a cam loosely mounted on said cam supporting member and provided With teeth, a centrifugally acting governor comprising a pair of independent movable segmental toothed racks engaging the teeth in said cam, an interrupter frame arranged Within an electric circuit and actuated by said cam for interrupting the electric current, means for imparting a tension for returning said interru ter frame to normal, a contact-point carried'pby the interrupter frame, a second contact-point arranged adjacently to said frame and in axial alinement with the contact-point on the frame, and means for adjusting the contact-point on the frame for maintaining a normal working relation with said second contact-point.

8. A device of the herein described class comprising` a revoluble cam supporting member, a cam loosely mounted on said cam supporting member, a eentriit'ugally acting governor arranged on said cani supnortingmember and having a working engagement with said cam, an interrupter frame arranged within an electric circuit and actuated by said cam for interrupting the electric circuit, said interruptor frame being provided with grooves in its edges, balls providing a bearing for said frame by engaging said grooves, frame being further provided With transverse notches communicating with the grooves for inserting and removing the frame.

9. A device of the herein described class comprising a revoluble cam supporting member, a cani provided with a concentrically arranged rack loosely mounted on said cam supporting member, means for imparting axial movement to said cam comprising a pair of independent centrifugally acting governor blades provided with teeth adapted to engage the teeth in said cam, high tension electric current d istributer segment supported by said cam and susceptible to all movements imparted to the latter, and means for insulating` said segment away from said cam. A l

y10. A device of the, hereindescribed class comprising` a revoluble cam supporting mem ber, a cam provided with a concentrically arrangedY rack rloosely mounted on said cam supporting member, means for imparting axial movement to said cam comprising a pair of independent centrifugally acting governor blades provided with teeth adapted to engage the teeth in said cam, a high tension electric 4current distributer segment removably carried by said cam and susceptible to all the movements imparted to the latter, means for insulating said segment away from said cam, and means for drivingly connecting said segment and cam.

l1. A device of the herein described class comprising a revoluble cam supporting member, a cam provided with a concentrically arranged rack loosely mounted on said cam supporting member, means for imparting axial movement to said cam comprising a pair of independent centrifugally acting governor blades provided With teeth adapted to engage the teeth in said cam', a high tension electric current distributor segment removably supported by said cam and susceptible to all movements imparted to the latter, an insulating block for mounting and for insulating said segment away from said cam, and yieldable means impinging upon said segment for normally holding the lat- 7' Vter and insulating block into Contact with said cam.

12. A device of the herein described class comprising a revoluble cam supporting member, a cam loosely mounted on said cam supporting member, means for imparting axial movement to said cam comprisingy a centrifugally acting governor, a high tension electric current distributor segment removably supported by said cam and susceptible lo all movements imparted to the latter, an insulating block forinounting and for insulating said segment away from said cam, a friction reducing plate interposed between said block and cam, means on said plate for drii-'inglyY connecting said block and plate together, and means carried by said plate for drivingly connecting said plate and cam together.

13. A device of the herein described class comprising a revoluble cam supporting member, a cam loosely mounted on said cam supporting member, means independent of the cam supporting member for imparting axial movement to said cam, a high tension electric current distributer segment removably supported by said cam and susceptible to all movements imparted to the latter, and insu loting block for mounting and for insulating said segment away from said cam, and means for changing the position of said segment on said block.

lil. A device of the herein described class comprising a revoluble cam supporting member, a cam loosely mounted on said cam supporting member, means independent of the cam supporting member for imparting axial movement to said Cam, a high tension electric current distributer segment removably supported by said cam and susceptible to all movements imparted to the latter, an insulating block for mounting and for insulating said segment away from said cam, se curing-means extendiiig through said ledge and segment, the end of said securing-means being remotely situated from the cam to forni an air gap and providing a short circuit for the electric current when its normal course is impeded.

l5. The combination, with a casing of a device of the herein described class, of a division plate provided with a central aperture having a recess in its marginal edge, a cam supportingshaft projecting through said central aperture in the plate, a cam loosely mounted on said cam supporting shaft, and means carried by said cam adapted to pass through the recess in the plate for properly locating the cam on its shaft.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 2nd day of August, A. D. one thousand nine hundred and fifteen.

FREDERICK BAIER. [n s] lVitnesses I?. IV. VOERNER, L. B. IVOERNER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington,D C. 

